Commuters who drive along U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) in East Marlborough Township will need to budget some extra time for their travels over the next month. Starting Monday, July 15th, Chester Water Authority is set to begin their water main relocation work under a PennDOT project valued at $10.4 million, aimed at widening and ameliorating a 1.3-mile section of the highway stretching from the Kennett Oxford Bypass to Greenwood Road in Kennett and East Marlborough townships, Chester County. This is in accordance with information released by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
The project necessitates a lane closure on northbound U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) between Orchard Avenue and Greenwood Road, scheduled from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on weekdays. The construction, which will run till August 16, aims to not just widen the well-trodden path but also add a third lane in certain parts, build sidewalks, and upgrade traffic signals. Travelers are advised to allow themselves extra time when commuting through the area to handle the potential delays that may manifest. All construction activities are, as always, at the mercy of the weather's whims.
As for the specific enhancements, the plan includes milling and overlaying the current surface of U.S. 1, constructing additional travel lanes, utilizing existing shoulders, and integrating right-turn lanes across the selected sections of the highway. Moreover, there will be new sidewalks laid along the north side from Schoolhouse Road up to the Longwood Village Shopping Center entrance, changes to left turn movements at Orchard Avenue, and the installation of new Dynamic Message Signs.
The updates also encompass five signalized intersections which are set to receive state-of-the-art upgrades as part of the wider initiative to enhance this stretch of highway. Allan Myers, LP, the general contractor based out of Worcester, Montgomery intimated that the project financing comes from 100 percent federal funds. While drivers may need to temporarily adapt their daily routines to accommodate this construction, the promised improvements are geared towards creating a safer and more efficient flow of traffic for all in the long term.
